Articles
Conservation and sustainable use of tropical fruit diversity for improved livelihood, nutrition security and ecosystem services
Article number
1384_5
Pages
39 – 48
Language
English
Abstract
Food systems, nutrition, health care and livelihood security are of great concern to human, social and economic development.
Producing food that is good for people and the planet has never been more pertinent.
Yet, although there has been much progress in food production globally, there are still large segments of populations undernourished.
In this context, fruits have emerged as a better solution, not only to provide required nutrients but also, to enhance access to food from production systems that support biodiversity and climate mitigation, through low carbon production systems.
Indigenous fruits are a good source of nutritious foods, locally available to meet the vitamins and minerals requirements in diets.
However, despite being highly nutritious, and even medically valuable to human health, most indigenous fruit tree species are still not fully utilized.
This challenge calls for increased knowledge, capacity, and uptake of innovative technologies and fresh approaches to maintain fruit diversity and fruit quality postharvest, with a view to preserving their high nutritional value.
Community-based participation encourages farmers to protect, grow and promote indigenous fruit diversity in their own farmlands, backyards, community lands, etc., and shortening the food supply chain between field and fork through various schemes and programmes.
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, in collaboration with national partners such as ICAR-NBPGR, is implementing several projects on mainstreaming tropical fruits diversity in India.
Producing food that is good for people and the planet has never been more pertinent.
Yet, although there has been much progress in food production globally, there are still large segments of populations undernourished.
In this context, fruits have emerged as a better solution, not only to provide required nutrients but also, to enhance access to food from production systems that support biodiversity and climate mitigation, through low carbon production systems.
Indigenous fruits are a good source of nutritious foods, locally available to meet the vitamins and minerals requirements in diets.
However, despite being highly nutritious, and even medically valuable to human health, most indigenous fruit tree species are still not fully utilized.
This challenge calls for increased knowledge, capacity, and uptake of innovative technologies and fresh approaches to maintain fruit diversity and fruit quality postharvest, with a view to preserving their high nutritional value.
Community-based participation encourages farmers to protect, grow and promote indigenous fruit diversity in their own farmlands, backyards, community lands, etc., and shortening the food supply chain between field and fork through various schemes and programmes.
The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, in collaboration with national partners such as ICAR-NBPGR, is implementing several projects on mainstreaming tropical fruits diversity in India.
Authors
J. Rana, S.K. Malik, S.P. Ahlawat, P. Mathur
Keywords
fruit diversity, in situ conservation, ex situ conservation, socio-economy, nutrition, field genebank, cryogenebank, germplasm
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